oa Editorial [Hot topic: Recent Advances of Sensitive Electroanalytical Tools and Probes in the Study of DNA Structure (Guest Editor: Stella Girousi)]

This special issue is aimed at providing a recent update on the analytical mainly electroanalytical techniques used in the development of electrochemical DNA biosensors regarding DNA structure and DNA hybridization. It also addresses the significance of electroanalytical techniques as an alternative and even more as pioneering analytical techniques in the study of epigenetic DNA modification such as methylation. The focus is on the applicability of electroanalytical techniques as well as electrochemical biosensors in the detection of different DNA forms in biological samples. Distinguished scientists, from all over the world, have contributed in this special issue. Prof. Jan Labuda and his student provide an important review on electrochemical DNA biosensors and flow-through analysis. Prof. Gennady A. Evtugyn along with Prof. Tibor Hianik describe the role of layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembles involving DNA as a platform for DNA sensors. Prof. Miroslav Fojta and his colleagues present osmium tetroxide complexes as versatile tools for structure probing and electrochemical analysis of biopolymers. Prof. Elena Ferapontova critically discusses in an extensive review the role of electrochemical indicators for DNA electroanalysis. Prof. Arzum Erdem and her colleagues provide important information about the recent electrochemical biosensor technologies for monitoring of nucleic acid hybridization. Prof. Farukh Arjmand and her colleagues present a very well known electrochemical technique; Cyclic Voltammetry as an electrochemical approach to study metal-based potential antitumor drug-DNA interaction. Finally Prof. Zorka Stanic along with me describe the last decade of carbon paste electrodes in DNA electrochemistry. It was really an honour for me to be a guest editor in a special issue where all these distinguished scientists have contributed. I wish to thank them all for their excellent cooperation.